Regional airline CEOs to debate the realities of intra-Caribbean tourism

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — Regional carriers can be major contributors to the development of the Caribbean by providing reliable intra-Caribbean service and by bringing in visitors from the rest of the Americas, a senior Caribbean airline executive has said.

Albert Kluyver, the CEO/ president of Curacao-based Insel Air, made this observation as he prepares to share his insights and recommendations at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)’s State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC). This year’s conference will be held from 15-18 October in Martinique and will focus on the theme: Perfecting the Experience, Delivering Authenticity.

Kluyver said he was eager to share his views on the role of regional carriers as major contributors to the Caribbean tourism industry, as well as the advantages they bring and possible ways of growing the value proposition for the travelling public.

“We will explore major elements for improvement that could increase the efficiency and volume of the transportation sector in the Caribbean,” he said.

Kluyver co-founded Insel Air in 2006, building on experience honed at Ernst & Young and as commercial director of ABN AMRO Bank. Together with his brother and business partner, Niko, he founded and currently manages Willemstad Private Equity Fund, which invests in a variety of Caribbean-based companies involved in trade, financial services, transportation and real estate.

He will join a panel that explores The Realities of Intra-Caribbean Tourism. And Who Gets It. This general session on Thursday 17 October, will be moderated by former LIAT CEO Brian Challenger and will also feature current LIAT CEO, Ian Brunton, and Gary Foss, the CEO of Seaborne Airlines.

In what’s expected to be an explosive session, the panellists and conference delegates will explore some of the major elements of the transportation dynamic including challenges of maintaining a regional transportation network; the potential of a regional yachting sector, trends in Caribbean cruising and the value of sharing intelligence and expertise among member countries.

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